Unknown gunmen have attacked a military vehicle east of the Egyptian capital, Cairo, killing at least two soldiers.

The attack was carried out on a desert road between Cairo and the Suez Canal city of Ismailia on Friday morning.

Reports say two other soldiers were also wounded in the attack and were transferred to a nearby hospital to undergo medical treatment.

The assailants then fled the scene and Egyptian security forces launched an investigation into the attack.

In a similar attack about ten days ago, one policeman was killed and two others were injured in Cairo.

Also, on September 24, unknown attackers on motorcycle opened fire at al-Sharq police station in the northeastern city of Port Said, injuring two police officers.

Egypt has been facing insecurity since the ouster of former president, Mohamed Morsi, by the army on July 3, with militant groups stepping up their attacks on members of Egyptian security forces ever since.

On September 19, Egyptian authorities grounded several subway lines in Cairo after finding unexploded bombs on the tracks at a station.

Egyptian security officials in the capital said bomb experts were sent to Helmeyet el-Zaytoun station in northeast Cairo to search the tracks for more possible explosive devices.

Moreover, the surge in violence has prompted Cairo to launch a major offensive against the militants and send thousands of troops backed by tanks and heavy equipment into the Sinai Peninsula.